Real-time vs turn-based, how to enjoy turn-based as real-time?

[CesareRaf]

Hi guys!

I have always played my games in real-time, but recently for some niche games I had to try the turn-based modality, as it is the only way to find players for those games.

After starting a few turn-based games, I have to say this modality has several disadvantage making my experience way less enjoyable so far:

• Not seeing opponents' moves live (and in 4/5 people games reviewing them in the logs is quite annoying)

• Losing track of both personal and opponents' strategies and critical moves

• Having to take notes about what one is trying to do in a game to remember it for the next login

• Checking too often mail inbox or BGA to see if it is finally time to make a move (I am a bit impatient, I know)

• Overall (but I guess this point is more personal), I find it so annoying to play for several days a game that would have lasted around 1 hour if played in real-time

Despite these disadvantages, turn-based modality is the most spread. I know for many of you playing turn-based is merely a question of schedules and time, and I understand this! That's why my question is: how do you manage to make the gaming experience enjoyable in turn-based games? Do you check your emails once in a while and enter when is your turn or do you just login to BGA at certain allocated hours (I know this of course depends from one's work as well)? Do you take notes during your games to remember yours and your opponents' strategies and critical moves in the next logins? Do you replay opponent's moves? Are you also sometimes impatient to finish a game or that is just me?

Bonus question: is there a specific section to meet other players interested in playing in real-time on this forum? Or do I have to ask for it in the sub-sections dedicated to each game?

[RicardoRix]

I only (generally) play at 1 table of each game, and then you don't get confused. You can mentally keep track easy enough, use the Notes system if required.

There is no need to check your emails, just login whenever is convenient during the day. If you keep a browser tab open then it will activate with the little rotating triangle to alert you to a move.

You can play X moves per day, according to your speed preference. 8/12/24 if you want really fast. Tournaments can often harbour fast play.
There are a lot of players that play much faster than the time frame. If you have 15 games or so on the go, then you'll usually find at-least 5 of those are being played considerably faster, and almost in real-time on occasion.

There are very few games you can't easily tell what's happened by just checking the log or looking around. 'Replay last moves' is also available.

[Introvert33]

I enjoy both real-time and turn-based games, but lately been playing more turn-based because of recent connection issues.

I think you should adopt a separate mentality for turn-based games, you shouldn't treat them as real-time games for instance.

I've never had to look at the logs for 4p/5p games, because usually in these games I'm mostly focused on my own strategy, at least compared to 2p/3p where player interaction is more of a factor. There are some exceptions like Terra Mystica, in which you need to be careful about opponents taking your own hexes, But, you can usually deduct that by looking at the board, and analyzing the situation.

This is my experience, with most other games, I just look at the board, and usually I remember the plan from last time. But this is difficult to do if you're playing many of the same game (For example, 3 Agricola games, that would end up too confusing, however 1 game of Agricola, 1 game of Wingspan and 1 game of GWT is much more manageable).

If you're playing many of the same game, or if your plan is too complicated to remember, or if turns take too long to remember, then this where Notes come in handy. But, remember that this is turn-based, you've got all the time in the world to make a move, so maybe instead of hurrying up to make a move as soon as it is your turn, might be worthwhile to analyze the game for a while in order to make a better move.

Overall (but I guess this point is more personal), I find it so annoying to play for several days a game that would have lasted around 1 hour if played in real-time

This is the main point, and the thing I feel you need to get used to. Turn-based games will take a while to finish. This is a fact, unless you're playing practically real-time with quick people or with fast time controls.
Yes, it will take separate days, but you won't have to wait for your opponents moves (you can just play a separate game or do something else). You can take your time thinking up the best strategy possible (In GaiaProject for example I've seen people thinking for like 1-2 hours on the faction to choose, this simply isn't possible in realtime). And you don't have to worry about real life interruptions, or freeing up an hour slot of your day.

So, here are some suggestions
(1) Play some faster turn-based, I think tournaments tend to be really fast for example, might be too fast!
(2) Get used to turn-based and fill in the gaps where you don't have a move to make with realtime games or maybe something else.

[Fletcheese]

I think you should adopt a separate mentality for turn-based games, you shouldn't treat them as real-time games for instance.
...

Overall (but I guess this point is more personal), I find it so annoying to play for several days a game that would have lasted around 1 hour if played in real-time

This is the main point, and the thing I feel you need to get used to. Turn-based games will take a while to finish.

Definitely this. If you're expecting a turn-based game to take the same or even a similar amount of time compared to real-time, then you will constantly be disappointed.

So, here are some suggestions
(1) Play some faster turn-based, I think tournaments tend to be really fast for example, might be too fast!
(2) Get used to turn-based and fill in the gaps where you don't have a move to make with realtime games or maybe something else.

I remedy this by having a bunch of turn-based games going at once. Enough to scratch the itch but not so many that I'm overwhelmed with turns to play - usually around 10-15. I have push notifications for BGA on my phone and if I'm not busy (work from home), then I will usually play my turn when I get one. The psychology around repeatedly checking for a "my turn" notification is a bit concerning to me, but I try to keep it in balance.

I mostly play turn-based simply because I hate feeling rushed. I tend to overanalyze games and often hit analysis paralysis which is exacerbated by a real-time clock.

I would also add that depending on the game taking notes is absolutely crucial though this may be because I tend to play many tables of the same game at once. E.g. in Wingspan I will write something like "5 Bird, 4 Eggs, 3 Draw" (number is action cubes left in round) if that's my plan for the next 3 turns. I don't always hold to this, but it at least gets me back in the mental state I was in the last time I played that table.

[Jellby]

That's why my question is: how do you manage to make the gaming experience enjoyable in turn-based games?

I don't, I hate turn-based games. I only play them after several days trying and failing to get a real-time game.

[CesareRaf]

I only (generally) play at 1 table of each game, and then you don't get confused. You can mentally keep track easy enough, use the Notes system if required.

This is my experience, with most other games, I just look at the board, and usually I remember the plan from last time. But this is difficult to do if you're playing many of the same game (For example, 3 Agricola games, that would end up too confusing, however 1 game of Agricola, 1 game of Wingspan and 1 game of GWT is much more manageable).

I guess this was the point I was missing! I was playing turn-based only the game for which I could not find people in real-time (El Grande in my case) in several tables, and it ended up being confusing. I will try to play only 1 table per game in turn-based then!

There is no need to check your emails, just login whenever is convenient during the day. If you keep a browser tab open then it will activate with the little rotating triangle to alert you to a move.

This also makes sense, but I will rather login when it is convenient for me than keeping the tab open, as it would be a constant distraction! I should just avoid logging in too often in the hope my turn as comes because, in the end, the other players opted for games turn-based and not real-time for a reason! Basically this is the point:

I think you should adopt a separate mentality for turn-based games, you shouldn't treat them as real-time games for instance.

This is the main point, and the thing I feel you need to get used to. Turn-based games will take a while to finish. This is a fact, unless you're playing practically real-time with quick people or with fast time controls.
Yes, it will take separate days, but you won't have to wait for your opponents moves (you can just play a separate game or do something else). You can take your time thinking up the best strategy possible (In GaiaProject for example I've seen people thinking for like 1-2 hours on the faction to choose, this simply isn't possible in realtime). And you don't have to worry about real life interruptions, or freeing up an hour slot of your day.

Thank you for making me more aware of the positive aspects of it! Not having to wait for others' moves and getting the chance to reflect more about my own are two aspects that may seem banal about turn-based games, but I have to admit I had overlooked them, being too used to real-time and therefore being too impatient! And also as you said, playing turn-based you don't need a whole hour slot of your day, because you can just use down time.

Thanks guys for making me appreciate more this modality! Should you or anyone else have more suggestions, more than welcome!

[fruktansvärt]

I set up my email to send an alert to the phone lock-screen when BGA sends the "it's your turn" mail.
Easiest way to do this was to create a separate gmail address just for BGA. Once a month i switch to it and clear out all the mail.

[CesareRaf]

That's why my question is: how do you manage to make the gaming experience enjoyable in turn-based games?

I don't, I hate turn-based games. I only play them after several days trying and failing to get a real-time game.

That was exactly my take on this (and partially I still think the same, I will decide whether to try to play more turn-based after thinking a bit about the other replies). But since we agree(d?) on this, than for you there is my bonus question unanswered until now: is there a specific section of the forum to get in touch with other players interested in playing in real-time? Or do I have to ask for it in the sub-sections dedicated to each game?

[Jellby]

I don't think there is a forum section, and I guess most players don't ever visit the forum anyway. You could try to find a relevant group, join and send a message, but I wouldn't hold my breath: I tried https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=7553079 already with not much success.